Face off

   For breakfast, a fresh fruit smoothie with a side of toast. A light salad with veggies is lunch. A fatty bean and rice burrito makes dinner. Dessert? Mint and chip soy ice cream−two scoops. Though a meat, dairy and egg-free lifestyle isn't average, an increasing number of people are
switching over.
   I went vegan two years ago when I learned about the large-scale damage the meat industry causes. Because of its size, the industry taps many resources to sustain itself, which takes a toll on the environment. I couldn't contribute to that, so I stopped eating meat
and animal products. The jokes and accusations of being crazy have yet to cease.
   Vegans don't decide to abstain from meat because it's easy. We don't do it because there are so many great restaurants, or for the sheer thrill of meticulously checking ingredient lists. And despite the temptation of being the butt of cliché jokes, it's not that either.
   It's a choice, not a diet. It's based on facts and beliefs. One fact, the meat industry globally impacts the environment. One belief, it's wrong
to ignore the facts and do nothing to change them. Being informed isn't being a freak, and I don't think I should be alienated or mocked for it.   
   In Asia, people eat sushi. In Russia, fish eggs are a delicacy. In Zombieland, brains are on the menu. Who has the right to judge what people eat? Believe it or not, vegans eat more than tofu. In fact, vegans eat a varied selection from the food pyramid. And, believe it or not, we enjoy it too. As far-fetched as it may seem, food can taste good without meat.
  Contrary to popular belief, not eating meat isn't missing out. It's not
the food, rather the social interaction we miss. We can't eat at restaurants with family or friends. Holiday dinners are never the same. To top it all off, doubt and disrespect underlie incessant gibes. Keep in mind that a seemingly innocent joke repeated so many times can turn into an insult. It might seem over-sensitive, but after a while, the jokes just aren't funny.